Seat belt issues force Toyota to recall 90,189 Highlanders in US

New York: Toyota Motor Corp., Japan's largest automaker, is recalling 90,189 Highlander sport-utility vehicles in the US because third-row seat belts may not lock in some child-safety seats.

The recall affects 2008-model gasoline and hybrid Highlanders, the automaker said in a letter posted on the web site of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The belts may not tightly secure child seats, possibly resulting in an injury in a crash, Toyota said.

Toyota will begin notifying owners in June and has asked dealers to stop selling affected models until the problem is fixed, said Bill Kwong, a spokesman for the Toyota City, Japan- based automaker. Dealers will install a seat-belt component with a new design, without cost to the vehicle owners.

US sales of the Highlander rose 5.2 per cent to 43,676 this year through April, the company said in a statement yesterday. The model ranks second in sales among Toyota's sport-utility vehicles, behind the RAV4.

Meanwhile, Toyota Motor yesterday announced new manufacturer's suggested retail prices (MSRP) for certain Toyota and Lexus vehicles, effective mid-to late May 2008.

At this time, pricing for the all-new 2008 Sequoia full-size sport utility vehicle (SUV), the 2008 Tacoma pickup truck, the all-new 2009 Corolla compact car and all-new 2009 Matrix crossover utility vehicle pricing remains unchanged.

The only 2009 model year Toyota vehicle to receive a price adjustment is the Toyota Camry. The gas model increases $200 or 0.9 per cent and carries a new base MSRP of $18,920.

The hybrid model, which was introduced as a 2007 model in late 2006, increases by $300 or 1.1 per cent and carries a new base MSRP of $25,650.

The Highlander midsize SUV gas model posts a price increase of $200, or 0.7 per cent, and will carry a new base MSRP of $27,500.